Carrier having reinforced handle member

ABSTRACT

A carrier carton is formed from a blank of paperboard and has opposed pairs of end walls and side walls and a bottom wall. A load transmitting flap is foldably joined to a handle forming panel along a diagonal fold line. A free edge of the flap is attached to the end wall of the carrier in a face-to-face relationship thereto, thereby transmitting the load from the handle to the end wall.

United States Patent [191 Helms Jan. 14, 1975 1 CARRIER HAVING REINFORCED HANDLE MEMBER [75] Inventor: Charles Robert Helms, Barto, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: June 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,246

[52] US. Cl 206/185, 229/52 BC [51] Int. Cl 865d 75/00 [58] Field of Search 220/1l0,l11,112,113,

220/115; 229/28 BC, 52 BC; 206/162, 175, 180,193, 427,188,185

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,181 7/1949 Crane et a1. 229/52 BC X 2,587,808 3/1952 Arneson 229/52 BC X 2,741,399 4/1956 Arneson i. 229/52 BC X 3,011,677 12/1961 Struble 220/113 3,140,797 7/1964 Arneson... 220/113 3,752,356 8/1973 Forrer 229/52 BC X Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A carrier carton is formed from a blank of paperboard and has opposed pairs of end walls and side walls and a bottom wall. A load transmitting flap is foldably joined to a handle forming panel along a diagonal fold line. A free edge of the flap is attached to the end wall of the carrier in a face-to-face relationship thereto, thereby transmitting the load from the handle to the end wall.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CARRIER HAVING REINFORCED HANDLE MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a carrier carton formed from paperboard, or the like, and, more particularly, to a carrier carton having a load transmitting element transferring the load from the carrying handle to certain walls of the carton.

2. The Prior Art Heretofore, a difficulty has been experienced with carrier cartons formed from paperboard for holding a plurality of bottles or cans with respect to comparative structural weakness of the handle of such carrier or the weakness of the attachment of the handle to the main body of the carrier. The handle had a tendency to break due to its inability to support the load contained in the carrier carton when such carton was being carried by the user.

The present invention overcomes the above disadvantage and provides a load transmitting flap which transfers a portion of the load normally carried by the handle to the walls ofthe carrier carton, thus improving the overall strength of the carton.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON Generally, this invention provides a load transferring element in a carrier carton formed from paper board, or the like, and suitable for carrying a plurality of articles, such as bottles, cans, and the like. The element, in a form of a flap or strut, extends between the handle and a wall of the carrier, thereby transmitting a portion of the load from the handle to the wall, thus improving the strength and useful life of the carton.

DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of paperboard cut and scored for forming a specific carrier carton incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier carton formed from the blank illustrated in P16. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carrier carton illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, more specifically to FlG. 1, there is shown a paperboard blank, generally designated 10, which is scored and cut in a specific manner to form a carrier carton, generally designated 12, and best seen in FIG. 2.

The blank and carrier illustrated in the drawing and described herein is but an exemplification of the invention, since the present invention could equally well be applied to blanks and carriers of different structural features.

The carrier carton 12 has a pair of side walls 14 and 16, respectively, joined to end walls 18 and 20, respectively, by score lines 22. In the exemplary carrier the bottom wall is formed of panels 23 and 24. Gussets 26 are formed at the bottom of each of the end walls 18 and 20. A manufacturers glue flap 28 is connected to the end wall 18 along another score line 22, enabling formation of a tubular structure when, in formation of the carrier, the glue flap is secured by adhesive or other means to the free edge of the side wall 16.

A plurality of article separating straps 30 are formed at the top edge of the side walls 14 and 16 for separating the articles, such as bottles, in the carrier.

The carrier of the present embodiment is provided with several handle forming panels 32, 34, 36 and 38 to form a multi-ply carrier handle. The handle forming panels have apertures formed therein for insertion of a hand by person carrying the carton.

The aperture 40 in the panel 32 is substantially identical to the aperture 42 in the panel 36, while the aperture 44 in the panel 34 is substantially identical to the aperture 46 in the panel 38.

The handle forming panels are converted to the respective side walls of the carrier by the article separating straps 30.

The panel 34 is foldable about score line 48 so as to be placed in a face-to-face relationship with the panel 32. Likewise, the panel 38 is foldable about a score line 50 to place the panel 38 in a face-to-face relationship with the panel 36, thus increasing the thickness of the handle member of the carrier.

Load transmitting flap or strut 52 is hingedly secured to the panel 32 along a diagonal score line 54. Load transmitting flap 56 is hingedly attached to the panel 36 along a diagonal score line 58.

Flaps 52 and 56 are formed with tabs 60 and 62, respectively, foldably connected to the flaps by fold lines 64 and 66, respectively.

The top portions of end walls 18 and 20 have substantially triangular extensions 68 and 70, respectively, integrally formed therewith. One edge of the triangular extension 68 is defined by a continuation 72 of the diagonal score line 54. The triangular extension 70 formed with the end wall 20 has one of its edges defined by a continuation 74 of the diagonal score line 58.

In formation of the handle structure of the carrier, after handle forming panels 36 and 38, as well as 32 and 34, have been brought into respective face-to-face .contact as hereinabove described, the load transmitting flaps 52 and 56 are folded inwardly about the respective diagonal score lines 54 and 58.

The tabs 60 and 62 are, at the same time, folded about the continuations 72 and 74 of the diagonal score lines and attached by adhesive, or otherwise, to inner surfaces of respective end walls 18 and 20.

Thus, a substantial connection is established between the handle and the end walls of the carrier transferring a portion of the load from the handle to the end walls. l claim:

1. In a carrier carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for packaging a plurality of similar articles, said carrier having opposed pairs of interconnected end walls and side walls and a bottom wall, the improvement comprising:

a. at least one handle forming panel connected to the top portion of each of said side walls by at least one article separating strap;

b. a load transmitting flap foldably joined to an end of said handle forming panel along a diagonal score line;

0. said flap having a tab integrally formed therewith and connected to said end wall along a score line forming a continuation of said diagonal score line;

(1. said tab being folded inwardly along said score line and secured in a face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of said end wall to present a load carrying member transmitting the load from said handle to said end wall.

2. ln a carrier carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for packaging a plurality of similar articles, said carrier having opposed pairs of interconnected end walls and side walls and a bottom wall, the improvement comprising:

a. at least one handle forming panel for providing a handle of a carrier carton;

b. a load transmitting flap foldably joined to an end of said handle forming panel along a diagonal score line;

c. said load transmitting flap being connected to the top portion of an end wall along a continuation of said diagonal fold line and being folded therealong so that a portion thereof is in face-to-face contact with the inner surface of said end wall and is secured thereto to present a load carrying member 5 transmitting the load from said handle to said end wall.

3. A carrier carton as defined in claim 2, wherein said top portion of said end wall presents a substantially triangular extension with one edge thereof being defined by said continuation of said diagonal fold line.

4. A carrier carton as defined in claim 2, wherein the handle is formed from a plurality of handle forming panels. 

1. In a carrier carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for packaging a plurality of similar articles, said carrier having opposed pairs of interconnected end walls and side walls and a bottom wall, the improvement comprising: a. at least one handle forming panel connected to the top portion of each of said side walls by at least one article separating strap; b. a load transmitting flap foldably joined to an end of said handle forming panel along a diagonal score line; c. said flap having a tab integrally formed therewith and connected to said end wall along a score line forming a continuation of said diagonal score line; d. said tab being folded inwardly along said score line and secured in a face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of said end wall to present a load carrying member transmitting the load from said handle to said end wall.
 2. In a carrier carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for packaging a plurality of similar articles, said carrier having opposed pairs of interconnected end walls and side walls and a bottom wall, the improvement comprising: a. at least one handle forming panel for providing a handle of a carrier carton; b. a load transmitting flap foldably joined to an end of said handle forming panel along a diagonal score line; c. said load transmitting flap being connected to the top portion of an end wall along a continuation of said diagonal fold line and being folded therealong so that a portion thereof is in face-to-face contact with the inner sUrface of said end wall and is secured thereto to present a load carrying member transmitting the load from said handle to said end wall.
 3. A carrier carton as defined in claim 2, wherein said top portion of said end wall presents a substantially triangular extension with one edge thereof being defined by said continuation of said diagonal fold line.
 4. A carrier carton as defined in claim 2, wherein the handle is formed from a plurality of handle forming panels. 